Illinois 95th Regular Session Status: Passed House

HB 1503 — AIR GUNS PROHIBITED

Last action — Session Sine Die

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 95th Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Amends the Air Rifle Act. Changes the short title to the Air Gun Act. Retains existing regulation and penalties for paintball guns. Provides that a person may not sell, exhibit for sale, give away, transfer, possess, or discharge an air gun (with an exception for carnivals) and makes violation a Class B misdemeanor.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

46 added · 161 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to HB 1503 change the age restriction for air rifle ownership from under 18 years to under 13 years. This means that now, individuals aged 13 and older can buy or handle air rifles, as long as certain adult relationships (like parent/child or instructor/student) are maintained. This change is significant because it lowers the age at which young people can access air rifles, potentially increasing the number of minors who can possess them and raising safety concerns in the community.

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*LRB09510149RLC30363b* HB1503 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois and 2008 HB1503 Introduced 2/22/2007, by Rep.
HB1503 Engrossed LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b AN ACT concerning criminal law.
Milton Patterson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
ILCS 535/Act title ILCS 535/0.01 from Ch.
38, par.
82 ILCS 535/1 from Ch.
38, par.
82-1 ILCS 535/1.1 new ILCS 535/2 from Ch.
38, par.
82-2 ILCS 535/3 from Ch.
38, par.
82-3 ILCS 535/4 from Ch.
38, par.
82-4 ILCS 535/5 from Ch.
38, par.
82-5 ILCS 535/6 from Ch.
38, par.
82-6 ILCS 535/7 from Ch.
38, par.
82-7 ILCS 535/8 from Ch.
38, par.
82-8 Amends the Air Rifle Act.
Changes the short title to the Air Gun Act.
Retains existing regulation and penalties for paintball guns.
Provides that a person may not sell, exhibit for sale, give away, transfer, possess, or discharge an air gun (with an exception for carnivals) and makes violation a Class B misdemeanor.
LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY A BILL FOR HB1503 LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b AN ACT concerning criminal law.
The Air Rifle Act is amended by changing the title of the Act and Sections 0.01, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and by adding Section 1.1 as follows:
The Air Rifle Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 3, and 4 as follows:
(720 ILCS 535/Act title) An Act concerning air guns providing protection for the public safety by regulating the sale, offering or exposing for sale at retail and the use of air rifles, defining air rifles, and imposing duties on the State Police, sheriffs and police officers and providing penalties.
(720 ILCS 535/0.01) (from Ch.
38, par.
82) Sec.
0.01.
Short title.
This Act may be cited as the Air Gun Rifle Act.
(Source:
P.A.
86-1324.) (720 ILCS 535/1) (from Ch.
38, par.
82-1) Sec.
1.
As used in this Act:
Show all 94 changed rows (54 more)
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Latest
(1) "Air gun rifle" means and includes any air gun, air pistol, air rifle, spring gun, spring pistol, BB gun, pellet gun, or any other implement that a person could reasonably HB1503 - 2 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b perceive as an actual firearm but that is not a firearm, and that is capable of firing or discharging a projectile constructed of hard plastic, steel, lead, or other hard materials with a force that reasonably is expected to cause bodily harm spring gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, paint ball gun, pellet gun or any implement that is not a firearm which impels a breakable paint ball containing washable marking colors or, a pellet constructed of hard plastic, steel, lead or other hard materials with a force that reasonably is expected to cause bodily harm.
"Paintball gun" means a barrelled implement designed to expel a breakable ball containing washable marking colors.
(2) "Municipalities" include cities, villages, incorporated towns and townships.
(3) "Dealer" means any person, copartnership, association or corporation engaged in the business of selling at retail or renting any of the articles included in the definition of "air gun" or "paintball gun" rifle".
(Source:
P.A.
86-349.) (720 ILCS 535/1.1 new) Sec.
1.1.
Air guns.
(a) A person may not sell, exhibit for sale, give away, transfer, possess, or discharge an air gun.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the acquisition, possession, and discharge of air guns that are in the HB1503 - 3 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b possession and control of a carnival and are offered for use to carnival customers on a temporary basis.
As used in this Section, "carnival" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Carnival Regulation Act.
It is unlawful for any dealer to sell, lend, rent, give or otherwise transfer a paintball gun an air rifle to any person under the age of 13 years where the dealer knows or has cause to believe the person to be under 13 years of age or where such dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry relative to the age of such person and such person is under 13 years of age.
It is unlawful for any dealer to sell, lend, rent, give or otherwise transfer an air rifle to any person under the age of 18 13 years where the dealer knows or has cause to believe the person to be under 18 13 years of age or where such dealer has failed to make reasonable inquiry relative to the age of such person and such person is under 18 13 years of age.
It is unlawful for any person to sell, give, lend or otherwise transfer any paintball gun air rifle to any person under 13 years of age except where the relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward or adult instructor and pupil, exists between such person and the person under 13 years of age, or where such person stands in loco parentis to the person under 13 years of age.
It is unlawful for any person to sell, give, lend or otherwise transfer any air rifle to any person under 18 13 years of age except where the relationship of parent and child, guardian and ward or adult instructor and pupil, exists between such person and the person under 18 13 years of age, or where such person stands in loco parentis to the person under 18 13 years of age.
It is unlawful for any person under 13 years of age to carry any paintball gun air rifle on the public streets, roads, highways or public lands within this State, unless such HB1503 - 4 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b person under 13 years of age carries such paintball gun rifle unloaded.
It is unlawful for any person under 18 13 years of HB1503 Engrossed - 2 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b age to carry any air rifle on the public streets, roads, highways or public lands within this State, unless such person under 13 years of age carries such rifle unloaded.
It is unlawful for any person to discharge any paintball gun air rifle from or across any street, sidewalk, road, highway or public land or any public place except on a safely constructed target range.
It is unlawful for any person to discharge any air rifle from or across any street, sidewalk, road, highway or public land or any public place except on a safely constructed target range.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Act, it is lawful for any person under 13 years of age to have in his possession any paintball gun air rifle if it is:
Notwithstanding any provision of this Act, it is lawful for any person under 18 13 years of age to have in his possession any air rifle if it is:
(2) Used by the person under 13 years of age and he is a duly enrolled member of any club, team or society organized for educational purposes and maintaining as part of its facilities or having written permission to use an indoor or outdoor rifle range under the supervision, guidance and instruction of a responsible adult and then only if said paintball gun air rifle is actually being used in connection with the activities of said club team or society under the supervision of a responsible adult;
(2) Used by the person under 18 13 years of age and he is a duly enrolled member of any club, team or society organized for educational purposes and maintaining as part of its facilities or having written permission to use an indoor or outdoor rifle range under the supervision guidance and instruction of a responsible adult and then only if said air rifle is actually being used in connection with the activities of said club team or society under the supervision of a responsible adult;
or (3) Used in or on any private grounds or residence under circumstances when such paintball gun air rifle is fired, discharged or operated in such a manner as not to endanger HB1503 - 5 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b persons or property and then only if it is used in such manner as to prevent the projectile from passing over any grounds or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence.
or (3) Used in or on any private grounds or residence under circumstances when such air rifle is fired, discharged or operated in such a manner as not to endanger persons or HB1503 Engrossed - 3 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b property and then only if it is used in such manner as to prevent the projectile from passing over any grounds or space outside the limits of such grounds or residence.
(Source:
Laws 1965, p.
2977.) (720 ILCS 535/5) (from Ch.
38, par.
82-5) Sec.
5.
The provisions of this Act do not prohibit sales of air guns or paintball guns by rifles:
(1) By wholesale dealers or jobbers or to;
(2) To be shipped out of the State.
The provisions of this Act do not prohibit sales of paintball guns to;
(3) To be used at a target range operated in accordance with Section 4 of this Act or by members of the Armed Services of the United States or Veterans’ organizations.
(Source:
Laws 1965, p.
2977.) (720 ILCS 535/6) (from Ch.
38, par.
82-6) Sec.
6.
The State Police or any sheriff or police officer shall seize, take, remove or cause to be removed at the expense of the owner, any air gun or paintball gun rifle sold or used in any manner in violation of this Act.
(Source:
P.A.
77-577.) (720 ILCS 535/7) (from Ch.
38, par.
82-7) Sec.
7.
Sentence.
HB1503 - 6 - LRB095 10149 RLC 30363 b Any person violating Section 1.1 of this Act commits a Class B misdemeanor.
Any dealer violating any provision of Section 2 of this Act commits a petty offense.
Any person violating any other provision of this Act commits a petty offense and shall pay a fine not to exceed $50.
(Source:
P.A.
77-2815.) (720 ILCS 535/8) (from Ch.
38, par.
82-8) Sec.
8.
The provisions of any ordinance enacted by any municipality which impose greater restrictions or limitations in respect to such sale and purchase, use or possession of air guns or paintball guns rifles as herein defined than are imposed by this Act, are not invalidated nor affected by this Act.
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Action History

  1. Session Sine Die

  2. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  3. Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 25, 2007

  4. Third Reading/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 18, 2007

  5. Third Reading/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 10, 2007

  6. Third Reading/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 3, 2007

  7. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Home Rule Note Filed as Amended

  8. House Committee Amendment No. 1 State Mandates Fiscal Note Filed as Amended

  9. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elga L. Jefferies

  10. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

  11. Second Reading - Short Debate

  12. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Fiscal Note Filed as Amended

  13. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Pension Note Filed as Amended

  14. House Committee Amendment No. 1 State Debt Impact Note Filed as Amended

  15. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Housing Affordability Impact Note Filed as Amended

  16. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Judicial Note Filed as Amended

  17. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  18. Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Consumer Protection Committee; 007-002-000

  19. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Consumer Protection Committee; by Voice Vote

  20. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Consumer Protection Committee

  21. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Constance A. Howard

  22. Assigned to Consumer Protection Committee

  23. Referred to Rules Committee

  24. First Reading

  25. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Milton Patterson

Sponsors

  • Milton Patterson · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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0 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 182 not signed on

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (1)

  • Milton Patterson

Not signed on (182)

182 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 182 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1503 do?
Amends the Air Rifle Act. Changes the short title to the Air Gun Act. Retains existing regulation and penalties for paintball guns. Provides that a person may not sell, exhibit for sale, give away, transfer, possess, or discharge an air gun (with an exception for carnivals) and makes violation a Class B misdemeanor.
Who sponsors HB 1503?
HB 1503 is sponsored by Milton Patterson.
What is the current status of HB 1503?
This bill died with 95th Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 1503?
Track HB 1503 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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